Mesmerizing Morocco | October 23th, 2023
$5399 $4999 per person
⭐⭐⭐⭐+
*Prices are CAD per person, based on 2 people sharing
*Based on a minimum of 15 passengers. First come, first served!
*Single Supplement rate: +$1295 CAD ($6294 CAD). Limited and based on request.
*Arrival into Casablanca is October 24th, 2023. Pre-nights available upon request.
BOOK BY JUNE 30TH AND SAVE $300 CAD PER PERSON!
Mesmerizing Morocco
October 23-November 6, 2023
There is something about Morocco that mesmerizes you. Everyone who travels here falls in love with this country. Morocco has plenty to offer, including medieval cities, the maze-like Medina’s, local open-air markets, Riads, mosques and minarets, the Sahara Desert, the Arab & Berber culture, the Atlas Mountains, Roman ruins, the Moroccan cuisine and the beautiful Islamic architecture/monuments. One day you will be staying in a traditional Riad (a Moroccan house or palace) in the Medina to riding a camel in the desert where you stay at a luxury camp/tent in the desert. Another day, you will be enjoying Moroccan tea in the red city of Marrakesh to next, dodging donkeys to get to a leather tannery in the holy city of Fez!
Including Casablanca (1 Night), Chaouen (2 Nights), Fes (3 Nights), Erfoud (1 Night), Merzouga (2 Nights), Boumalne Dades (1 Night) & Marrakech (3 Nights)
Highlights:
- In Casablanca you will visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world
- Have a welcome dinner at Rick’s café, in a nostalgic atmosphere of the Casablanca movie, embellished with an onsite pianist.
- Spend 2 nights in the “Blue City”, built on a mountainside. Chefchaouen is a city with unique vibes. Its unique charm gives an impression of unreality as if you are walking around in a dream, and with its blue rinsed houses the whole city seems to be bathed in azure.
- In Fes, have lunch at Medina Bis during your tour, located in the center of the old medina of Fes – the restaurant Le Medina Bis makes the gastronomy of Fes a philosophy! With an extraordinary Arab-Moorish architecture, you will taste the royal couscous, the tagine, the pastilla… and all kinds of traditional dishes from the region.
- Camp out in a luxury tented experience for 2 nights – from the Merzouga village where you will be transferred by 4×4 cars into the sand sea of the Moroccan desert, and you will camp on the edge of the Sahara Dunes.
- Drive through Tinejdad, Tineghir and the Todra Pass in the beautiful 1,000 Kasbah Valley to El Kelaa des Mgouna where the palm trees are replaced by orchards and irrigated gardens.
- You will stop by Ouarzazate and visit Oscar studios, where movies such as Gladiator, Babel, Kingdom of heaven, or series like Prison Break, Game of Thrones and many more productions were filmed.
- Visit Ait Ben Haddou, which is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
- In Marrakech, dive into the maze-like Medina with its colorful alleyways and the Souks with their shimmering colors and oriental smells a discovery of the most colorful souks in the north of Africa. Then conclude the day with a sunset drink overlooking the exciting Jamaa El Fna Square.
- Have a farewell dinner, at Dar Zellij in a superb 17th century riad, named as one of the best restaurants in the world by Laliste.com in 2016, which has preserved painted ceilings of rare beauty, with a unique, luxurious and romantic atmosphere…
- And much more!
What’s Included:
Group arrival/departure transfers | Private transfers and transportation on tour | 13 nights accommodation at Hotels & riads as indicated above | Inclusive of hotel tax, hotel service charges and includes daily breakfast as mentioned hotels (or similar) | Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides (one guide in each city) | Entrance fees | Meals as specified (24 meals): 13 daily breakfast at hotels, riads & bivouacs / 3 Lunches / 8 (4 Dinners in riads/bivouacs in Erfoud, Merzouga desert & Boulemane Dades; 2 dinners in local restaurants in Fes and Marrakech; 1 welcome dinner at Rick’s café (Casablanca), and 1 farewell dinner at Dar Zellij (Marrakech) | Fresh Bottled mineral water on board while touring | All tips for luggage carrying, guide, driver | Local taxes and permanent services.
*GROUP ARRIVAL TRANSFERS INCLUDED – This transfer will be based on the timing of the majority of flight arrivals. If flights are booked outside of this then a $50 CAD per person cost will apply. *Group departure transfer will be from Marrakech to Casablanca on the last day.
Not included in price:
Round trip International Airfare | Cancellation and Out of Country Medical Insurance | Other items not listed in itinerary
Payment Terms & Conditions:
$1000 CAD per person non-refundable deposit
Final Balance: July 25, 2023 (100% non-refundable after final payment)
- 3 nights accommodation at a beach hotel
- Daily breakfast & at the hotel
- Transfer from Marrakech to Agadir and back at the end
- A guided visit in Agadir Oufella & Agadir souk
MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW…
Call for assistance: 1-800-481-9739 ext. 3
Mention Group Booking Number: TMJMOR23
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Destination
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Arrival City
Casablanca, Morocco -
Departure City
Casablanca, Morocco -
Activity Level
This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, up stairs, or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected. -
Passenger Limit
16-24 Passengers Only
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Monday, October 23, 2023: International Departure
Depart Canada and take flight to Casablanca, Morocco!
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Tuesday, October 24, 2023: Casablanca Airport – Casablanca
Upon arrival in Casablanca you will meet your English speaking guide at the Jetway holding a sign with your name (or Trip Merchant Journeys) signage. Once you have your luggage, you will be escorted to your transfer vehicle and your Trip Merchant Morocco representative will take you on a light tour of Casablanca which includes Mohamed V Square, United Nations Square and the Arab League Park. Continue to visit the impressive Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.
Check-in at your hotel and getting prepared for the evening dinner at Rick’s café, in a nostalgic atmosphere of the Casablanca movie, embellished with an onsite pianist.
Overnight at Hotel.
Check-in at your hotel and getting prepared for the evening dinner at Rick’s café, in a nostalgic atmosphere of the Casablanca movie, embellished with an onsite pianist.
Overnight at Hotel.
Meals Provided: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Idou Anfa (http://www.idouanfahotelcasablanca.com/)
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Wednesday, October 25, 2023: Casablanca – Rabat - Chaouen
Buffet breakfast at your hotel.
Meet with your guide and drive 1 ½ hours to Rabat. An additional local guide will escort the group for better service. You will have sightseeing tour of this capital city of Morocco which includes the medina, the picturesque Kasbah of the Oudayas and the Oudaya Gate, built during the Almohad dynasty and the Oudaya Museum of berbere arts and crafts.
You will also visit the incomplete Hassan mosque with its well-preserved Tower built also by the Almohads at the end of the 12th century and Chellah of the Merinids from the 13th century.
Continue with your guide for 4 ½ hours drive to the blue city of Chaouen, built on a mountainside. Chefchaouen is a city with unique vibes. Its unique charm gives an impression of unreality as if you are walking around in a dream, and with its blue rinsed houses the whole city seems to be bathed in azure.
Overnight at the riad.
Meet with your guide and drive 1 ½ hours to Rabat. An additional local guide will escort the group for better service. You will have sightseeing tour of this capital city of Morocco which includes the medina, the picturesque Kasbah of the Oudayas and the Oudaya Gate, built during the Almohad dynasty and the Oudaya Museum of berbere arts and crafts.
You will also visit the incomplete Hassan mosque with its well-preserved Tower built also by the Almohads at the end of the 12th century and Chellah of the Merinids from the 13th century.
Continue with your guide for 4 ½ hours drive to the blue city of Chaouen, built on a mountainside. Chefchaouen is a city with unique vibes. Its unique charm gives an impression of unreality as if you are walking around in a dream, and with its blue rinsed houses the whole city seems to be bathed in azure.
Overnight at the riad.
Meals Provided: Breakfast
Accommodation: Riad Jasmine (https://www.darjasmine.com/)
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Thursday, October 26, 2023: Chaouen
Breakfast at the riad.
You’ll meet your guide & additional local guide then leave for the discovery of the beautiful city of Chefchaouen, called the pearl of the north. The beautiful city of Chefchaouen brims with attractions. First, the inescapable Medina with its famous narrow winding alleys is an opportunity to mingle with the local people and to smell and taste delights; from freshly baked bread to skillfully prepared tagines. And there is also the Kasbah which stands in the center of the old quarter; its lush gardens are a haven of freshness. Moreover, the Museum of Chefchaouen which is home to a collection of old weapons, photos of the city, and textiles, is a must see.
Chefchaouen with its unique geographical position, breathtaking nature, and small size, is a paradise for walkers.
Overnight at the riad.
Meals Provided: Breakfast
Accommodation: Riad Jasmine (https://www.darjasmine.com/)
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Friday, October 27, 2023: Chaouen – Ouazzane - Fes
Breakfast at your riad.
Start your trip to Fes, on the way stop in Ouazzane also been known as "Dar Dmana". Many Jews in Morocco regard Ouazzane as a holy city and make pilgrimages to venerate the tombs of several marabouts (Moroccan saints). In particular, moul Anrhaz, the local name of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan, an 18th century rabbi who lived in the city and whose burial place is associated with a number of miracles.
Start the visit with a tour of the ancient ramparts, and the beautiful façade of the Royal Palace. Continue to the atmospheric old Mellah (Jewish Quarter) in Fes el Jedid, just north of the Royal Palace. Throughout this compact district, the lanes are lined with fine (though highly dilapidated) examples of early 20th-century houses, which were once home to the vibrant Jewish community of Fes. Then drive to Borj Sud for a wonderful view of the expanse of the Medina of Fes.
During the day, have lunch at Medina Bis during your tour, located in the center of the old medina of Fes. Restaurant Le Medina Bis makes the gastronomy of Fez a philosophy! With an extraordinary Arab-Moorish architecture, you will taste the royal couscous, the tagine, the pastilla,... and all kinds of traditional dishes from the region.
We conclude the day with a visit to the famous “potters” district. Fes pottery is often covered with a white glaze and decorated in a cobalt blue once the clay has been processed and dried in the sun. It is this rich cobalt blue that has become known as the Blue of Fes.
Overnight at the riad.
Start your trip to Fes, on the way stop in Ouazzane also been known as "Dar Dmana". Many Jews in Morocco regard Ouazzane as a holy city and make pilgrimages to venerate the tombs of several marabouts (Moroccan saints). In particular, moul Anrhaz, the local name of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan, an 18th century rabbi who lived in the city and whose burial place is associated with a number of miracles.
Start the visit with a tour of the ancient ramparts, and the beautiful façade of the Royal Palace. Continue to the atmospheric old Mellah (Jewish Quarter) in Fes el Jedid, just north of the Royal Palace. Throughout this compact district, the lanes are lined with fine (though highly dilapidated) examples of early 20th-century houses, which were once home to the vibrant Jewish community of Fes. Then drive to Borj Sud for a wonderful view of the expanse of the Medina of Fes.
During the day, have lunch at Medina Bis during your tour, located in the center of the old medina of Fes. Restaurant Le Medina Bis makes the gastronomy of Fez a philosophy! With an extraordinary Arab-Moorish architecture, you will taste the royal couscous, the tagine, the pastilla,... and all kinds of traditional dishes from the region.
We conclude the day with a visit to the famous “potters” district. Fes pottery is often covered with a white glaze and decorated in a cobalt blue once the clay has been processed and dried in the sun. It is this rich cobalt blue that has become known as the Blue of Fes.
Overnight at the riad.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Riad Al Amine (https://www.riadelaminefes.com/)
6
Saturday, October 28, 2023: Fes
Breakfast at the riad.
You will be met at the Riad at 9:00AM for your full day tour in Fes.
After a ride along the ramparts, we do a walking tour of the labyrinth of the medina (UNESCO World Heritage) with its colorful street of dyers and brass workers at es-Seffarine. Walk through the winding streets of the great al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University; journey into the past to the magnificent Mosque and Medersa el-Attarine, the Kissaria Draz and tanneries on the bank of Oued Fes. Continue to the Nejjarine Museum inside a wonderfully restored funduq, an ancient inn used by travelling merchants who stored and sold their goods below and took lodgings on the floors above. Centered on a courtyard, the rooms are given over to displays of traditional craftsmen’s tools, chunky prayer beads and Berber locks, chests and musical instruments. Everything is beautifully presented, although the stunning building gives the exhibits a run for their money. The rooftop café has great views over the medina. Photography is forbidden near the exhibits but is allowed in the courtyard and from the rooftop.
Return to your hotel for overnight.
Overnight at the riad.
Meals Provided: Breakfast
Accommodation: Riad Al Amine (https://www.riadelaminefes.com/)
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Sunday, October 29, 2023: Fes – Mekness- Volubilis – My Idriss Zerhoun
Breakfast at the riad.
You will be met at the riad at 9:00AM for your full excursion tour in Mekness, Volubilis & My Idriss Zerhoun.
Volubilis is an ancient Berber city, then Romanized, capital of the kingdom of Mauretania, located in the plain of Saiss in Morocco, on the banks of the Rhoumane wadi, a river in the suburbs of Meknes. Meknes is not far from the holy city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun where rests Idriss Iᵉʳ, founder of the Idrisid dynasty.
Explore the remains of the 2,000 year old complex. Continue to Moulay Idriss to discover one of Morocco's holiest cities. Take a stroll through the narrow streets of the small town where Moulay Idriss I introduced the religion of Islam in 789 AD. Then depart for Meknes, founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military camp.
Meknes is a city located in the north of Morocco. It is renowned for its imperial past, with relics such as Bab Mansour, a huge arched gate and mosaic tiling. The gate leads inside the old imperial city. The mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismaïl, who made the city his capital in the 17th century, includes courtyards and fountains. To the south, the vast Heri es-Souani complex once housed stables and food warehouses.
Enter the medina and see some of the city's monumental gates and be captivated by the ornamental decorations of Hispano-Moorish architecture. While touring the city walls, stop at the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (founder of the Alaouite dynasty and Sultan at the time, when Meknes was the capital).
Come back to Fes by the end of the afternoon, spend time at leisure and get prepared for the 3 course dinner at the prestigious La Maison Blanche.
Overnight at the riad.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Riad Al Amine (https://www.riadelaminefes.com/)
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Monday, October 30, 2023: Fes - Erfoud
Breakfast at the riad.
Meet your guide and driver and prepare for the trip to the Moroccan desert.
On a trip to the Moroccan desert, visit Erfoud. In the heart of the desert, this small village dozes at the foot of the High Atlas, on the road of a thousand kasbahs. The site of Erfoud is an ideal starting point to explore the Moroccan desert and its extraordinary landscapes!
It was the French soldiers who first settled in Erfoud, in order to monitor the rebellious tribes of Tafilalet. The city then prospered thanks to the flourishing trade of its dates and its marble famous for its inclusions of fossils 360 million years old.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Xaluca Maadid (https://xaluca.com/fr/kasbahhotelxaluca)
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Tuesday, October 31, 2023: Erfoud – Erg Chebbi
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet your guide and driver and head to Merzouga village where you will be transfer by 4x4 cars into the sand sea of the Moroccan desert. You will travel approximately 1 ½ hours to reach the camp on the edge of the Sahara Dunes just a few miles after Merzouga.
After settling into your bivouac tent, you will have the opportunity to explore the area further.
Complete privacy is guaranteed at the camp.
The site is surrounded by torches and the ground is covered with antique Moroccan rugs. There will be a bonfire in between the tents and the whole camp site will be lit with candle lanterns and oil lamps.
Sleeping Tent: Furnished with comfortable mattresses, sheets, Berber blankets, towels, Moroccan wood chest … Everything for your comfort.
Sanitary: Each tent has its own separate shower with warm water, WC.
Food facilities: 1 kitchen tent, 1 restaurant tent, a small area for the bar
Two menus are suggested, and guests can choose on the spot.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Erg Chebbi Desert - Desert Luxury Camps (https://www.desertluxurycamp.com/)
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Wednesday, November 1, 2023: Erg Chebbi
Breakfast at the camp
Go for a full day 4x4 excursion at the Moroccan Sahara, you’ll stop by the Bedouin village and get to know more about their lifestyle, while having a cup of Moroccan tea. Right after, leave for a lunch in one of the Sahara oasis, a private outdoor setup will be waiting for you.
Spend the rest of the day admiring the Sahara and relaxing enjoying one of the calmest places on earth.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Erg Chebbi Desert - Desert Luxury Camps (https://www.desertluxurycamp.com/)
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Thursday, November 2, 2023: Erg Chebbi – Boumalne Dades
Breakfast at the camp
Then drive through Tinejdad, Tineghir and the Todra Pass in the beautiful 1,000 Kasbah Valley to El Kelaa des Mgouna where the palm trees are replaced by orchards and irrigated gardens. Roses for making perfume are the specialty of El Kelaa des Mgouna. Paris, the famous perfume by Yves Saint Laurent is made from the extract of these roses. You will find some nice shopping here for rose products such as rose water, body milk, dried petals etc.
On the way to Boumalne, you will visit the breath taking gorges of Todgha and Dades, a nature creation that extends over fifty kilometers along its wadi in an enchanting oasis, to form around Tinghir the Todra Gorges, the most spectacular gorges in Morocco to visit on a trip to the south Moroccan.
On a walk in the heart of the oasis valleys of southern Morocco you will encounter breathtaking landscapes of canyons and gorges. The gorges are the most spectacular. They begin after the palm grove of Tineghir.
Dinner and overnight at the riad.
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Friday, November 3, 2023: Boumalne Dades – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech
Breakfast at your riad.
After checking out of your hotel, you will head to Marrakech, but first, with your guide, you will stop by Ouarzazate and visit Oscar studios, where movies such as Gladiator, Babel, Kingdom of heaven, or series like Prison Break, Game of Thrones and many more productions were filmed.
You will then visit the Kasbah Taourirt before stopping by Ait Ben Haddou, a striking example of traditional southern Moroccan architecture, on the side of a hill at the top of which is a collective granary. The village is presented as a set of earthen buildings surrounded by walls, the ksar, which is a type of traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses are grouped together inside its defensive walls reinforced by corner towers.
Arrive in Marrakech and check-in at your hotel, spend some time to relax and prepare for the evening.
Dinner at La Terrasse des épices, an open-air terrace restaurant, offering a moment of relaxation and pleasure. At nightfall, it is a timeless dinner, under the stars of Marrakech, which is offered to you with the famous Koutoubia by night. An experience that will bring together the finest qualities of Morocco: a warm welcome of standing, Moroccan and Mediterranean fusion cuisine including the most famous specialties of the city.
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Saturday, November 4, 2023: Marrakech
Breakfast at your riad.
Meet with your guide then leave for a full day discovery of the pearl of the south.
Between tradition and modernity, Marrakech is the promise of unequalled sensations, Marrakech showers its visitors with its splendour and diversity, you just have to leave the ramparts to be immersed in modern Morocco, the red city offers you a complete change of scenery. You’ll start your tour with an outside visit to the Koutoubia Mosque, sister tower to Seville's Giralda, the minaret of which has become the symbol of the city. Then you’ll visit the Saadian Tombs, which are one of the only remnants remaining frames of the Saadian dynasty that reigned over the golden age of Marrakech. In the early 18th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail had in fact decided to remove all traces of the magnificence of this dynasty ordering the destruction of the remains.
Afterwards, you’ll go for a walk through the Mellah, the Jewish quarter, which became home of a thriving community of native and Spanish Jews, famed for their rabbinical schools and scholars. Moreover, you’ll go for a visit to the recently built Bahia Palace (19th century), which is often inhabited by His Majesty's guests, and its succession of rooms finely decorated in Arabic style, and gardens and Riad planted with orange and jasmine trees. Next, you’ll leave the old medina and be immersed in modern Morocco, you’ll visit the breathtaking Majorelle gardens and the Yves Saint-Laurent museum.
After these visits, you will be welcomed at Mr. Mohammed Fedal known as Chef Moha, the most famous chef in Morocco in his restaurant “Dar Moha” to have lunch there. Dar Moha, was the former home of Haj Idder, secretary to Pasha Glaoui; lord of the Atlas. This residence adjoining the Palais du Pacha will be taken over by the famous stylist and couturier “Pierre Balmain” who will stay there very frequently.
Today this riad taken over by Chef Moha surpasses himself as an artist to remain faithful to the vocation he has given himself: To discover an inventive cuisine where the flavors of other cuisines of the world are spread in extremely rare correspondences.
After your lunch, visit the museum Dar El Bacha, Dar El Bacha is a stately home built in 1910. The building was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, appointed Pasha of Marrakech by Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912.
Renovated by the FNM and opened in 2017, Dar el Bacha is a museum that represents a fine example of traditional Moroccan architecture, with its fountains and orange trees in the central courtyard, its traditional lounges arranged all around and its hammam.
The building is the typical example of the riad consisting of a garden surrounded by six rooms on its four sides. A majestic place, magical in its architecture and the beauty of its ornamentation. Dar El Bacha has seen Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and more recently Meryl Streep and Owen Wilson, among others.
Then go for a dive into the maze-like Medina with its colorful alleyways and the Souks with their shimmering colors and oriental smells a discovery of the most colorful souks in the north of Africa. Your journey concludes at the renowned Djemaa El Fna Square, a popular entertainment area where at the end of the afternoon, storytellers, snake charmers, tooth-drawers and dancers appear to entertain the crowd in a scene that is pure street theatre.
Try the famous snails soup at the square. Particularly popular in Marrakech, snails can be found everywhere in the Jemaa El Fna square. This flavorsome broth is supposed to have restorative and digestive benefits. This is almost reason enough to try. If that weren’t tempting enough, however, these distinctive chocolate brown snails are tender with a delicious savory taste. They are served in a broth bursting with flavors and spices.
Conclude the day with a sunset drink overlooking the exciting Jamaa El Fna Square.
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Sunday, November 5, 2023: Marrakech
Breakfast at your hotel
Day at leisure to relax by the pool or go for the last shopping spree. Perhaps take an optional tour to Essaouira (a port city and resort on Morocco’s Atlantic coast).
Get prepared for the farewell dinner, at Dar Zellij in a superb 17th century riad, named as one of the best restaurants in the world by Laliste.com in 2016, which has preserved painted ceilings of rare beauty (offering a unique, luxurious and romantic atmosphere, for a parenthesis out of time...).
Overnight at your hotel.
15
Monday, November 6, 2023: Transfer to Casablanca Airport OR Optional Post-Extension to Agadir!
Breakfast at your hotel.
Free time in the morning depending on the flight times, to relax by the pool or go for the last shopping spree.
Pick up from your riad then you’ll be transferred to Casablanca Airport.
Meals Provided: Breakfast
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